I grew up in south Texas, before moving to Upstate NY as a teenager. I learned to dance the "Cotton-Eyed Joe" long before I learned that it had ethnic roots in the mountains of eastern Europe. (That's where my grandparents came from  as legal immigrants.) And, one doesn't need to grow up in Texas to learn how to dance the "Texas two-step."

But, this coming Monday (15 May 2006), y'all better get ready for a new political dance: the "Texas side-step." (How I wish that I could take credit for that concept. But, for those that aren't old enough to remember, it comes from the Broadway musical, and later movie, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." Charles Durning's version of the side-step was absolutely side-splitting.)

My campaign for Congress is based upon many conservative principles. I have never been a single-issue voter, and am not a single-issue candidate. But, there is one issue that has voters totally focused right now. To condense the argument down to a sound bite that might actually make it into the broadcast news, I've learned to simply say, "No border equals no country."

Illegal immigration is the number-one hot-button issue in American politics today. News reports that our own government has leaked the locations of Minuteman volunteers to the Mexican government has made the situation far worse for President Bush than he seems to realize. Now, he plans to address the nation with his "plans" to deal with this issue. Get ready for the Texas side-step! And, this time, there's nothing funny about it.

In an apparent trial balloon, the Bush administration has recently "leaked" the idea that perhaps the president would consider putting the military along our borders. Oddly, both the news media and even members of Congress have echoed the mantra that it is "currently illegal" to put the military along the borders. Thus, these "experts" claim, new legislation would be necessary to "allow" troops to be stationed along the borders. Hello?! Doesn't anyone read the Constitution anymore?

Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 14 of the Constitution empowers the Congress for "calling forth the Militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions." Only an idiot can convert that into "currently illegal" to put troops along our borders! And, the term "idiot" would also apply to anyone that doesn't view 15 to 20 million people sneaking into our country as an "invasion." Minuteman co-founder Jim Gilchrist refers to it as a "stealth invasion."

As I've written before, if invoked in its purest sense, "calling forth the Militia" would mean that our Congress would actually provide money to the states to pay the Minutemen that currently volunteer "to do the jobs that our government won't do." Although the purest sense would also be the best sense, I'll settle for active duty troops from our Regular branches of the Armed Forces, supplemented by Guard and Reserve forces, stationed full-time along the entire length of our borders. And, let's put some troops at all of our ports of entry, including international airports, while we're at it.

Would such a program be expensive? Yes. Would it be cheaper than another "9-11"? Definitely. And, if we can afford to secure the border between South Korea and North Korea, then why can't we seem to afford to secure our own borders? If we can afford to send troops into the Balkans to defend the Muslims in a religious war (so that they can attack us), then why can't we seem to afford to secure our own borders? If we can afford to send troops into Haiti, to install and support a Leftist madman, then why can't we seem to afford to secure our own borders? If we can send our Special Operations Forces to train with those of Communist China (a nation that wants to destroy America), then why can't we seem to afford to secure our own borders? If we can send our troops for recurring training exercises with the Egyptian military, which then bombs and burns ancient churches, then why can't we seem to afford to secure our own borders? So, if anyone says that we don't have enough troops to do the job, then I can quickly suggest some locations where we can find some. (Of the above, the only location where keeping our troops might be justified is the Korean Peninsula. The DMZ between the North and the South is the most heavily guarded border in the world. Doesn't it make sense to train our troops for foreign border service by first guarding our own borders?)

I try to take my task of writing very seriously. And, I'm regularly disappointed with the coarseness of discussions in modern America. Thus, I know that we (and I) should avoid using naughty words. In several years of published columns, I think that I've only done it once before. But, if any elected official  especially the President of the United States  comes before the public to tell us that it is "illegal" to station troops on our borders, or that waves of invaders are our "guests," then there is only one proper reply left. "Don't piss on my shoes and then tell me it's raining!"

Our military is half the size that it was at the end of Desert Storm in 1991. At the start of Desert Storm, it was half the size that it was at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. And, at that time, it was half the size that it was in 1961, when our own US State Department published a little pamphlet called "Freedom From War."

That pamphlet contained the concept of a plan, which has been followed by both Democrats and Republicans, to shrink our American military, while expanding the power and "authority" of the United Nations. Too many of our citizens have sat idly by and let it happen. But, now that our very security  perhaps even our existence as a nation  is being threatened, perhaps more people will wake up. Globalism is a real threat to American sovereignty and security. And, many of our elected officials are globalists. The issue of border security is a watershed issue. Any elected official that will not strongly support border security, and put the "boots on the ground" to enforce it, is someone that has sold out America to a globalist agenda. The agenda has been around a long time. But, it has never been so close to success as it is right now. What will we do about it?

If the answer is "nothing," then enjoy watching, and dancing, the side-step ... all the way to the sheep pen. And, if you don't have a dance partner, then there are tens of millions of illegal aliens that will be happy to escort you.

Those that advocate the status quo or worse accuse us of going against our elected officials. HUH?

So let me see if I understand, IF I advocate enforcing our laws, and if I advocate national security, and if I see the danger that allowing 20 million foreign nationals to break into this country illegally steal welfare benefits and SSI and demonstrate on MY streets is wrong I am the bad guy??

We are called "stupid", we are called "traitors" to the administration, and much worse....HUH?

We are called "stupid", we are called "traitors" to the administration, and much worse....HUH?

No you are called "Stupid" for screaming constantly about the GOP with NO clue about what is going on in DC. What is suggested is that the Perpetual Whiners quit squealing the same set of lies and nonsense and actually LEARN what is going on in DC. You have all been squealing the same nonsense so long you just keep screaming daily instead of learning the FACTS of who is doing what in DC.

Sorry but by doing this you are actively working FOR the Democrats in Washington who are doing everything they can procedurally to block any real enforcement measures being put in the bill. We are suggesting the whiners quit squealing long enough to actually LEARN something. And then you should start screaming AT the proper targets.

All you are doing is screaming the same nonsense over and over and over and over. That does NOT get anything done in DC. And if NOTHING gets done this time around, the Illegals win. You people, via your incessant hysterics, are actively helping the Illegals prevent anything getting done in DC this year, that is just stupid.

Conservatism also means some decorum and a pleasant demeanor while discoursing.

You are an out of whack, out of control cannon that spreads sophomoric venom making you appear stilted and possibly suffering in the last stages of pinheaditis.

From the insults you hurl about, accusing some of being perhaps happier on a RAT site, I strongly suggest that it is you, Johnnie Boy who needs to examine himself carefully to see if he truly belongs on a big boy website.

It has appeared to me since I first became aware of your frustrated postings that perhaps you are more than mildly disoriented.

You should stay away from your computer....far away. Better yet, turn it off before it consumes you! Besides your mother wants you upstairs as it seems you haven't finished your porridge.

"So let me see if I understand, IF I advocate enforcing our laws, and if I advocate national security, and if I see the danger that allowing 20 million foreign nationals to break into this country illegally steal welfare benefits and SSI and demonstrate on MY streets is wrong I am the bad guy??"

Bears repeating, over and over again until the real 'bad guys' get it.

10
posted on 05/14/2006 6:00:58 AM PDT
by SeaBiscuit
(God Bless America and All who protect and preserve this Great Nation.)

Johnnie, you remind me of the joke about the guy who goes into the bar with a 12 inch high little man who jumps up on the bar and kicks everyone's drink over. The poor man explains that he got the little mean man after rubbing a bottle found on a beach. Of course a genie floats out and grants him a wish. Remember how that one goes, Johnnie?

Our military is half the size that it was at the end of Desert Storm in 1991. At the start of Desert Storm, it was half the size that it was at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. And, at that time, it was half the size that it was in 1961, when our own US State Department published a little pamphlet called "Freedom From War."

Yet you hear many people screaming that our military is intolerably large and it costs too much. As recently as the early 60s, military spending was 50% of the Federal budget. Of course, that was before entitlements started balloning out of control.

For the last 17 years, the mantra has been (both in and out of the military) that the military needs to get smaller, leaner, and more lethal. While I agree with the more lethal part, by continuously shrinking the constituency for the military, we erode the political will for maintaining a credible force--this is a vicious circle. I predict that in another few decades, people will find any kind of military intolerable. It will be seen as taking away resources from "legitimate" government programs, like SS and Medicare.

Sorry Ferdie but your posting history tell a vastly different story. Kind of obvious you are a DNC activist hoping this "Betrayed Conservative" fraud will give your Hate the GOP always postings credibility. So which Moveon.org Seminar did YOU attend?

I looked up Ferdie's posting history and it looks fine to me. Why are you harassing him? I see you attacking his posts, but not addressing what you think it wrong and why. Just go away, you aren't the posting police. It's Mother's Day, do it for your mom, it will reflect better on your raising.

17
posted on 05/14/2006 6:29:46 AM PDT
by Shimmer128
(I've seen the village, I don't want it raising my children)

Anyone who disagrees with this:...if any elected official  especially the President of the United States  comes before the public to tell us that it is "illegal" to station troops on our borders, or that waves of invaders are our "guests," then there is only one proper reply left. "Don't piss on my shoes and then tell me it's raining!"

Is being an idiot. I like President Bush as much as anyone but this is 100% spot on. You can't tell me that defending the border is illegal in the same speech where you push for the illegal aliens to be guest workers.

Its Orwellian to say that whats in the Constitution is illegal but support the breaking of the law.

I'm not sure why so many people aren't at least trying to wait and see before jumping all over the President. Yes, I too strongly suspect it is going to be another way for him to sell amnesty to 'earned citizenship' to the public, but I could be wrong. I really hope that I am. But I've seen far too many people attacking him already as if they know for sure what he's going to say. A good friend of mine, a conservative radio talk show host, was on the radio yesterday doing the same thing. I should have called in and got him to tone it down a bit and be a little more reasonable about it, but I was on the road and couldn't get a decent, stable cell.

Don't get me wrong, come Monday night/Tuesday morning, if the President thinks that his base is stupid/gullible enough to swallow another re-packaged amnesty scheme with a stronger border enforcement thin coat of paint on it, I'm going to be all over him. Until then, I'm taking a somewhat skeptical, wait and see attitude. Skeptical? Yes. This isn't the first time he's "heard the people" and "changed his tune" on immigration reform and border security. In fact, yesterday as I was unloading my car's trunk from another father/son campout I saw an old newspaper from about a year ago and it's headline story was from the AP and it was all about President Bush "hearing the people" on border security and him trying to re-sell the Kennedy designed amnesty scheme as a border security package.

Sunday morning news is apparently reporting that the "compromise" immigration (AMNESTY!) plan calls for national guard along the border BUT NO FENCE!

That's just the compromise bill in the Senate though. Although it's possible I'm wrong I see very little of what the liberals and their RINO coconspirators want getting through conference committee. I'm betting we'll ultimately see most of the proposed fence go up.

I try to take my task of writing very seriously. And, I'm regularly disappointed with the coarseness of discussions in modern America. Thus, I know that we (and I) should avoid using naughty words. In several years of published columns, I think that I've only done it once before. But, if any elected official  especially the President of the United States  comes before the public to tell us that it is "illegal" to station troops on our borders, or that waves of invaders are our "guests," then there is only one proper reply left. "Don't piss on my shoes and then tell me it's raining!"

Just HAD to replat that one!

24
posted on 05/14/2006 7:46:39 AM PDT
by houeto
(G.W. Bush's legacy: The largest Spanish speaking country in the world!)

I would predict that George is going to hit us with the same old, time worn promise....amnesty in some form for the 12 million illegal immigrants already here in exchange for a promise of finally securing our border in a real fashion (it's the same bad deal we got some years ago). None of us will like it and it is going to cause a great upheaval in the Republican party. My support for the President and the Republican party will be sorely tested by this debacle. If our President can't protect our country and its borders(his fundamental obligation under his oath of office)many of us will lose hope and retreat from participating in the national political process. There are some issues some of us are not willing to compromise on and this is one of them.

Do these people ever get tired of whining about the border. Over 50% of the posts are about the border for crying out loud. Do they think GW can just snap his fingers and it is solved? It's not like they haven't said the same thing 500 times.

Pray for W and Our Troops

27
posted on 05/14/2006 7:54:28 AM PDT
by bray
(The only thing lower than Bush' numbers are the press')

I'm not sure why so many people aren't at least trying to wait and see before jumping all over the President. Yes, I too strongly suspect it is going to be another way for him to sell amnesty to 'earned citizenship' to the public, but I could be wrong. I really hope that I am.

We've been watching Bush for over 5 years...His position of The New World Order, globalism, wide open borders and illegal guests is clear and established...He has leaned on Congress to pass some meaningful (to his rich globalist buddies) immigration reform that does not include protecting the border from invaders...

I don't think anyone's jumping the gun by expecting nothing from the President...

28
posted on 05/14/2006 7:56:27 AM PDT
by Iscool
(You mess with me, you mess with the whole trailer park...)

The more conditions in "sender" countries improve, the more emigrants those countries will send, at least until living standards in sending and receiving countries achieve rough parity.

Immigration economist Gordon Hanson of the University of California at San Diego ..calculates for every 10% increase in the U.S.-Mexico "wage gap," border crossings rise 6%. His conclusion: Job holders in Mexico are being transformed into job seekers in El Norte.

Sorry Ferdie but your posting history tell a vastly different story. Kind of obvious you are a DNC activist hoping this "Betrayed Conservative" fraud will give your Hate the GOP always postings credibility. So which Moveon.org Seminar did YOU attend?

Well MNJohnnie in the worlds of the gipper "There you go again". Your posting consistancy of anal insults, spin and avoiding the importance of issues like immigration that Ferdie so well elaborated on tell me you need some medication for your OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Its amazing you participate in a conservative forum where people are suppossed to be rational, objective and take a hard look at the issues.

But all you can do is the same old tired vitriol that makes you look so mentally ill.

You strike me as the ultimate liberal shrieky, illogical and in a deep seated "Denial" of the issues. People in Denial like you exhibit these behavioral traits

Will put in a prayer for you that you reach out get some professional help and start to recover from the toxic mental condition that you are in.

Screaming louder does not change the facts. You act just like a Democrat Activist in your postings. See no reason to think you are anything but another Moveon.org activist.

Surprise us, be FOR something once instead of mindlessly vomiting Hate GOP talking points 100% of the time. Anyone with any brain at all understands why Conservatives want Republicans in charge. Judges, Judges, Judges.

Anyone, such as yourself, who spends all their time screaming to replace a glass 60% full of Conservative Values with a glass 100% full of Leftist political poison is either a spoiled brat child throwing a temper tantrum because they do not get 100% of only what THEY want or a DNC activist pretending to be a "Betrayed Conservative" in the hopes it will give their talking points credibility.

NO ONE ever gets 100% of what they want out of politics. Spending all your time screaming for it, as you do, is either the behavior of a petulant child totally without a clue about how Politics actually works in a Constitutional Republic or the behavior of an activist lying about their real political agenda.

Anyone with any brain at all understands why Conservatives want Republicans in charge. Judges, Judges, Judges.

Get a clue. The illegal aliens are taking over the country state by state. In 20 years the only judges that'll be getting appointed are the ones they choose. For that reason alone open borders is the number one problem, everything else is secondary there Arne.

As as been pointed out to you. The Reagan you claim to worship never existed in reality. Your sort of "Conservative" spent most of the 1980s bitching about Reagan. NOW you suddenly want to claim the ultimate political pragmatist as your rigid dogmatic hero. He wasn't anything at all like you fantasize. Frankly, the ONLY think you "Real Conservatives" can do is bitch. No matter what is going on, you guys bitch bitch bitch. Since all you guys do is bitch, there is NO reason for anyone to take you guys seriously. I mean, WE KNOW how you all will react to anything. Why bother to do anything FOR the Perpetual Whiners? The only reward you get is MORE bitching!

You all seem to think bitching excuses you from getting off your butts and DOING things. It doesn't you know.

I'm way past tired of seeing hot-headed defenders of the illegal alien status quo insult conservative patriots, then act mightily offended when they are called one thing: "mindless, knee-jerk automatons"--or Robots.

Screaming louder does not change the facts. You act just like a Democrat Activist in your postings. See no reason to think you are anything but another Moveon.org activist. Surprise us, be FOR something once instead of mindlessly vomiting Hate GOP talking points 100% of the time. Anyone with any brain at all understands why Conservatives want Republicans in charge. Judges, Judges, Judges. Anyone, such as yourself, who spends all their time screaming to replace a glass 60% full of Conservative Values with a glass 100% full of Leftist political poison is either a spoiled brat child throwing a temper tantrum because they do not get 100% of only what THEY want or a DNC activist pretending to be a "Betrayed Conservative" in the hopes it will give their talking points credibility. NO ONE ever gets 100% of what they want out of politics. Spending all your time screaming for it, as you do, is either the behavior of a petulant child totally without a clue about how Politics actually works in a Constitutional Republic or the behavior of an activist lying about their real political agenda. So which is it, political fool or political fraud?

Johnnie boy it would be great if the Free Republic Forum could gain more conservatives members participating with excellent posts as by Ferdie. You are a hazard and a liability for if any new potential members try to get involved your psychotic ramblings are going to scare them off.

Go home Johnnie take a break from the keyboard get some rest and pray for yourself to evolve. I hate to break it to you but you are not an asset but a liability to this excellent forum

Interesting that the same crowd that bitch endlessly about Federal Spending now scream for the Feds to come fix their Imigration problems. The only difference between the "Real" Conservatives and the Leftist is what they want Big Goverment to DO for them. 4 States have the massive share of the problem, what are the State Rights crowd NO sitting on their buts demanding the other 46 states shell to fix THEIR problems?

Funny how Federal Spending is this terribable end all be all crises to the "Real Conservatives" right up to the point certain people want something from the Feds then it price is no object.

"Our nation does not have to choose between being a compassionate society and a lawful society," he said. "A lawful society is one that enforces its laws and enforces its border."

Bush generally favors plans to give millions of illegal immigrants a chance at U.S. citizenship without leaving the country, but he has tempered his support because of opposition from conservative House Republicans. He supports strengthening U.S. borders, but also wants a guest worker program to let immigrants work for American businesses

"I think we need to create a secure and legal channel for people to come to this country to work," he said. "It'll reduce the number of people trying to sneak across our border. It'll treat people humanely. It'll get rid of the coyotes and the document forgers."

I don't think his position will change much from what he said ten days ago. Bush wants comprehensive immigration reform (McCain-Kennedy) but is willing to secure the border (for how long) with NG troops and a virtual fence. Why virtual? It is easier and faster to take down.

[ and if I see the danger that allowing 20 million foreign nationals to break into this country illegally steal welfare benefits and SSI and demonstrate on MY streets is wrong I am the bad guy?? ]

AND by the way VOTE.. illegal and legal aliens WILL VOTE and vote as democrats.. Whose to stop them?.. Its very easy to get registered to vote(most places).. The democrat party is NOW in overdrive to make that happen.. thats in addition to the normal democrat voter fraud.. You can bet democrat operatives are advising most of the alien groups.. if not all.. Voting demographics are changing as we speak..

48
posted on 05/14/2006 9:12:42 AM PDT
by hosepipe
(CAUTION: This propaganda is laced with hyperbole..)

The point now isn't illegal immigration or federal spending. It's you, MNJohnnie. It's nearly impossible to hear the pros and cons of this immigration debate without some turkey, usually a die-hard supporter of the president, starting with the name-calling. About the worst I've seen from the enforcement side is to call the president's supporters 'Bushbots'. So I'm tired of being reasonable while trying to argue with conservatives who act like the liberals the thin blonde describes as "like arguing with third graders: 'You're stupid! and that's their argument." So quit yer whining you puling racist, sexist, xenophobic, gold-plated Bush-robot.

new legislation would be necessary to "allow" troops to be stationed along the borders. Hello?! Doesn't anyone read the Constitution anymore? Reading would indicate a brain and a brain would indicate some human thinking organ and that would just be amazing.

Uh, guys... the 'repel invasion' in the federal Constitution is for the federal aspect of the US government, and I believe that posse comitatus prevents the military on the border. Congress would need special legislation to get around it.

HOWEVER

ALL the States have this type of provision, just like the federal government has it's own-

The Texas Constitution Article 4 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Section 7 - COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF MILITARY FORCES; CALLING FORTH MILITIA He shall be Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the State, except when they are called into actual service of the United States. He shall have power to call forth the militia to execute the laws of the State, to suppress insurrections, and to repel invasions.

--------

Governors have the authority to repel an invasion of their respective states.

Now all we have to do is get them to get up off their collective arses and DO something.

50
posted on 05/14/2006 9:17:54 AM PDT
by MamaTexan
(I am NOT a * legal entity *, nor am I a ~person~ as created by law!)

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